Seven Letters From Camp Conversion

Mom: I cannot believe you and Dad sent me away to this crappy summer camp. I hate it here. All the food tastes the same and the girls are taller and prettier than me. They make fun of my braces and my shoes. The leaders gave us a bible, and every day, we have to memorize a bunch of it. We have to sit in a circle every morning and tell the group why we love Jesus. I don't know why I am supposed to love him, even though he seems nice. I am supposed to pray and ask him to save me from my sins. But I don't even know what sins I have committed. The counselors have all graduated from here and tell me it will get better, but I hate it and will never forgive you for forcing me to come. One of the counselors, Trish, said she is now married to a man and one day, I will marry a man, too. After she said that, I almost threw up on her shoes. Disappointingly Yours, Leigh-Ann

Leigh-Ann. Please don't be mad. We felt we had no other choice but to send you to camp. It won't be as bad as you think. We love you very much and we hope you put your time there to good use, turning your desire toward Jesus.

Mom: I am still mad at you and Dad for sending me here. Hardly any of the girls wanted to come here, except for a girl named Denise. She sleeps with her bible, has never worn pants, even once, and says every girl here is full of sin. There's that word again. I still don't know what my sin is, but I think it must have something to do with the time you found me and Elaine kissing, and Dad's face got really red, and he screamed at me and spanked me with his belt. We ate hotdogs last night that tasted like they were cooked in water from the dishes. The only good part was a few days ago, I got to sit with one of the new girls named Aiko, who has pretty brown eyes and the softest black hair. She makes me laugh, so all in all I am not hating you, but still wishing I was home and not here. Please come and get me as soon as you can. Leigh-Ann

Leigh. You know we can't come and get you until camp is over. Your father still feels bad about the time he spanked you. I'm sorry the food is bad. When you get home, I will make you your favorite meal, and our lives will return to normal. Mom

Mom: Hello from Girlz Can Change Camp. On Friday, the lead counselor told us we had to write a letter to a boy. I still haven't written mine because I don't have a boy to write to. I think I might write to cousin Michael because they don't know he is my cousin. After Sunday service, they told us about the chastity box, and it freaked me out. It's a special box they put girls who have been caught fooling around with each other. They even showed it to us. It's the shape and size of a coffin if you can believe that. I hope I don't end up in there. Aiko and I are becoming best friends. Yesterday we went swimming and boating and roasted marshmallows together. She is super cool, and before you ask, no, she does not have a boyfriend, just like me. By far the best thing about camp so far is meeting her. Leigh Ann

Leigh, please be careful with this girl you met. We hope you will focus more on your new relationship with Jesus and less on this new girl, who has obviously had some influence over your good nature. Please remember to brush your teeth twice a day. Mom

Hello, Mother: This camp is growing on me. Well, maybe only Aiko is growing on me. She made me a friendship bracelet with hearts on it. She was supposed to take it home and give it to a boy, but she gave it to me instead. I've been keeping it safely in the bible on the pages of Leviticus 18:22. We learned about the kind of sin we have, which is being gay. Denise says the following: "When we stray Satan's way, we choose to pray the gay away." I have prayed practically every time, but I still feel something tingly when Aiko and I are together, especially when she sits next to me, and her knee touches mine, the way she is as I write this letter. Rachel, one of our cabin mates, said she thinks the tingling is the Lord filling us with the Holy Spirit, but I'm not sure she is right. We are supposed to sleep one to a bunk, but for two nights in a row have snuck into Aiko's bed. I feel the best when she is with me. Do you think she could come and visit when camp ends? The cabins are cold, so we have to snuggle a lot, which at first was weird, but now I really like it. Say hi to Trevor for me. Love, L.

Leigh. I am afraid Denise is right. Continue to prey, as this is the only true path to salvation. I don't know what I did wrong that you have the kind of feelings you do. I continue to pray for your salvation every night. I'm afraid Aiko coming here is not an option. Trevor says, "Hey." Mom.

Mother: I know you thought this camp would set me on the straight and narrow as far as boys go, but I am afraid it has failed. One of the boys in the camp next door said he wanted to kiss me, and it made me feel sick to my stomach. A girl from Kentucky named Maya came out of the Chastity Box this morning, and she didn't look good. She was pale and could hardly stand. They said Jesus nailed her into the box himself and only let her out when she had fully repented for her sins. She was in there for three days straight with no water and only one piece of bread. Aiko said she could hear her crying in there for her mother. I do NOT want to go in there. I am starting to figure out that if I don't do what the counselors say, they have what they call spiritual retaliation. This includes getting paddled nine times, and then they make you sit on the chair of shame in the common room. You probably don't want to hear this, but I have figured out I don't find boys attractive at all. If I don't write to you for a few weeks, you can probably figure out what has happened to me. I hope you get to meet Aiko when you pick me up. P.S. We kissed on the lips in secret behind the dumpsters. Three times. Secretly happy, but still a little mad at you, Leigh

Leigh. Please tell me that you DID NOT kiss that girl. We told you before you left that was strickly forbidden. Are you not trying at all to curry favor with the Lord? I am so disappointed at this point. Dr. Patterson says this is wreaking havoc on my nerves and has put me on a new prescription. Take pity on your dear mother.

Mrs. Andrews, This morning, the leader of the whole camp told me you and Dad are going to pick me up early. Aiko cried when I told her. She said she can't imagine never seeing me again. This place is evil. Ruby, a sweet and kind girl who has never hurt a fly, went into the chastity box on Sunday afternoon after they caught her touching herself. None of us could sleep because all we heard all night long was her screaming. Only when the sun came up was the box silent. When we woke up, we had to walk by the box and yell at her she was going to hell. I begged you on the phone to let me stay until the end of the summer. I want you to know I refuse to come home early because I will not leave Aiko here without me. If you press me on this, I will run away. And remember what happened last time I ran away. Sadly, Leigh

Leigh. As I stated on the phone, this Aiko person is not good for you. She is tempting you to do unnatural things. Cast her aside, listen to what your counselors say, and you will be home in no time.

You People Suck! I told you I would leave if you tried to come and pick me up. We saw you pull up at the front of the camp property. This will be the last letter I ever write to you. Aiko and I are on the road in her brother Chui's Volkswagen van. He picked us up on a dirt road three miles from the back pasture of Girlz Can Change. Breanne, the youngest girl here, begged us to take her with us, but they nabbed her at the last minute. I'll never forget when I looked out the back window of the van and saw the way her eyes filled with tears. DO NOT BOTHER to try to find me. We are going so far away you will never find us. We are in love, much to your dismay. And one day we are going to get married. You are dead to me. Camp was a big waste of money. Aiko's Girlfriend, Lee